Fashion
The leggy Gen Z trend 50+ celebs like Louise Redknapp are loving this winter – and how to rock it classily at any age
LAST week, Kendall Jenner announced her partnership with hosiery brand Calzedonia.
The 5ft 9in model’s long legs were veiled in sheer polka dot tights, a trend that fashion bible Vogue declared was officially back in December last year.
You don’t need to have Kendall Jenner’s long legs to rock sheer tightsThe Mega Agency
SASHA BENJAMIN/@sasha_benjamin_photographyPlenty of celebs over 50-years-old are proving that opaque tights have no age limit, including Louise Redknapp[/caption]
Instagram/shirleyballasShirley Ballas, 64, even wore a pair with just a leotard and thigh-high boots on last week’s Strictly[/caption]
Fast forward almost a full year since Vogue’s declaration, and the trend (that many Boomers and Gen X might have fond memories of from the Seventies and Eighties) has taken Gen Z by storm.
Gen Z-ers lead fashion trends by using social media to quickly start and spread crazes.
As a result, the global hosiery market is growing at an annual rate of 4.5% and is projected to reach £80.3 billion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research.
“The past few years have seen a significant revival in sheer tights among Gen Z,” says Alison Lowe, MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship programme leader at the University of East London.
“This is being driven by a nostalgic fascination with vintage fashion.”
It’s not JUST the younger generation rocking the sheer tights, though.
Singer Louise Redknapp flashed her legs in opaque tights AND stockings to mark her 50th birthday on Instagram this week.
Model Cindy Crawford, 58, has channelled her Nineties style by wearing ultra-fine tights on the red carpet in recent years, as has Victoria Beckham, 50, with some lacy pairs.
Shirley Ballas has been no stranger to a sheer moment on this season’s Strictly, either.
The 64-year-old, who split from her toyboy fiance this week, even adorned a glittery pair with nothing but a leotard and thigh high boots for last weekend’s show.
Despite these women leading the trend, fashion experts have noted that most women over 50 are reluctant to slip into opaque tights.
General concerns are lack of cover, legs not being as thin as they were in their Twenties and feeling like “mutton dressed as lamb”.
This has been exacerbated by mature content creators and social media users urging women over the age of 50 to stop wearing sheer tights.
“Sheer tights have been very old fashioned for a long time,” one mum claimed on Mumsnet last winter.
A Brief History of Opaque Tights
As told by Alison Lowe, fashion consultant and MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship programme leader at the University of East London.
Opaque tights first gained mainstream popularity in the 1960s and coincided with the rise of miniskirts championed by designers like Mary Quant.
They were practical yet stylish and the trend maintained its appeal through the 1970s and 1980s, embraced by icons of the punk and grunge scenes, including the likes of Madonna.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, opaque tights started to fade out as bare legs and sheer hosiery took to the forefront.
However, the past few years have seen a significant revival among Gen Z, driven by a nostalgic fascination with vintage fashion.
Cindy Crawford is channelling her Nineties self through opaque tightsGetty
InstagramVictoria Beckham’s lacy black tights can be purchased through her eponymous fashion label[/caption]
“I would love to be thin enough to wear tights with a dress but I look like mutton dressed as lamb,” another moaned.
It might be the case that your TikTok-addicted Gen Z daughter has started rocking opaque tights after seeing her favourite influencer promote them.
This shouldn’t put you off slipping your legs into a pair, though.
In fact, Alison says the trend is ideal for women over 50 who want to add “sophistication” AND a “slimming effect” to their wardrobe.
Toe-tally On Trend
“The key is confidence and striking a bit of balance in your look,” she advises.
“I would recommend going for opaque tights which have deep, rich tones like black or navy.
“These colours also have the added advantage of providing a sophisticated and slimming effect.
“You can also pair opaque tights with a knee-length dress or tailored skirt and achieve a balance between looking elegant but also trendy.”
However, Alison did warn that some adaptations of the trend might leave you looking like mutton dressed as lamb.
“I’d avoid overly sheer or bright patterns unless you pair your look with neutral, classic pieces to maintain a chic look that isn’t too ‘in your face’,” she said.
“If you’re unsure of a look, start with tights that have a slightly matte finish.
“This will bring a subtle texture to your look without drawing too much attention.”
LAST week, Kendall Jenner announced her partnership with hosiery brand Calzedonia.
The 5ft 9in model’s long legs were veiled in sheer polka dot tights, a trend that fashion bible Vogue declared was officially back in December last year.
You don’t need to have Kendall Jenner’s long legs to rock sheer tightsThe Mega Agency
SASHA BENJAMIN/@sasha_benjamin_photographyPlenty of celebs over 50-years-old are proving that opaque tights have no age limit, including Louise Redknapp[/caption]
Instagram/shirleyballasShirley Ballas, 64, even wore a pair with just a leotard and thigh-high boots on last week’s Strictly[/caption]
Fast forward almost a full year since Vogue’s declaration, and the trend (that many Boomers and Gen X might have fond memories of from the Seventies and Eighties) has taken Gen Z by storm.
Gen Z-ers lead fashion trends by using social media to quickly start and spread crazes.
As a result, the global hosiery market is growing at an annual rate of 4.5% and is projected to reach £80.3 billion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research.
“The past few years have seen a significant revival in sheer tights among Gen Z,” says Alison Lowe, MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship programme leader at the University of East London.
“This is being driven by a nostalgic fascination with vintage fashion.”
It’s not JUST the younger generation rocking the sheer tights, though.
Singer Louise Redknapp flashed her legs in opaque tights AND stockings to mark her 50th birthday on Instagram this week.
Model Cindy Crawford, 58, has channelled her Nineties style by wearing ultra-fine tights on the red carpet in recent years, as has Victoria Beckham, 50, with some lacy pairs.
Shirley Ballas has been no stranger to a sheer moment on this season’s Strictly, either.
The 64-year-old, who split from her toyboy fiance this week, even adorned a glittery pair with nothing but a leotard and thigh high boots for last weekend’s show.
Despite these women leading the trend, fashion experts have noted that most women over 50 are reluctant to slip into opaque tights.
General concerns are lack of cover, legs not being as thin as they were in their Twenties and feeling like “mutton dressed as lamb”.
This has been exacerbated by mature content creators and social media users urging women over the age of 50 to stop wearing sheer tights.
“Sheer tights have been very old fashioned for a long time,” one mum claimed on Mumsnet last winter.
A Brief History of Opaque Tights
As told by Alison Lowe, fashion consultant and MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship programme leader at the University of East London.
Opaque tights first gained mainstream popularity in the 1960s and coincided with the rise of miniskirts championed by designers like Mary Quant.
They were practical yet stylish and the trend maintained its appeal through the 1970s and 1980s, embraced by icons of the punk and grunge scenes, including the likes of Madonna.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, opaque tights started to fade out as bare legs and sheer hosiery took to the forefront.
However, the past few years have seen a significant revival among Gen Z, driven by a nostalgic fascination with vintage fashion.
Cindy Crawford is channelling her Nineties self through opaque tightsGetty
InstagramVictoria Beckham’s lacy black tights can be purchased through her eponymous fashion label[/caption]
“I would love to be thin enough to wear tights with a dress but I look like mutton dressed as lamb,” another moaned.
It might be the case that your TikTok-addicted Gen Z daughter has started rocking opaque tights after seeing her favourite influencer promote them.
This shouldn’t put you off slipping your legs into a pair, though.
In fact, Alison says the trend is ideal for women over 50 who want to add “sophistication” AND a “slimming effect” to their wardrobe.
Toe-tally On Trend
“The key is confidence and striking a bit of balance in your look,” she advises.
“I would recommend going for opaque tights which have deep, rich tones like black or navy.
“These colours also have the added advantage of providing a sophisticated and slimming effect.
“You can also pair opaque tights with a knee-length dress or tailored skirt and achieve a balance between looking elegant but also trendy.”
However, Alison did warn that some adaptations of the trend might leave you looking like mutton dressed as lamb.
“I’d avoid overly sheer or bright patterns unless you pair your look with neutral, classic pieces to maintain a chic look that isn’t too ‘in your face’,” she said.
“If you’re unsure of a look, start with tights that have a slightly matte finish.
“This will bring a subtle texture to your look without drawing too much attention.”
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